A Midland university has signed a deal with a construction firm to start work on building a new £10.1 million centre in a bid to boost the region's science and technology industry.

The University of Wolverhampton has appointed Clegg Construction to build its Science, Technology and Prototyping Centre, which will be the base for up to 40 new businesses which specialise in the industry.

Set to be built at the university's science park, the three-storey development will cover 43,055 sq ft of space and will offer state-of-the-art facilities with high specification laboratories, workshops and offices - not currently available in the Black Country.

The project has been part-funded through a £4.8 million grant from the Black Country Local Enterprise Partnership as part of the Growth Deal while the remaining £5.3 million has been invested by the university itself.

The university's science park is currently home to more than 80 businesses employing more than 500 people and working across a broad range of technological and creative disciplines.

Opened in 1995 as a joint venture between the university and Wolverhampton City Council, the site has benefited from two previous expansions in 2000 and 2004.